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gunforhire

Account Executive

Executive
Valued Contributor
Member
+3

Start-Up Offer Delay By Two Weeks

I am in the final stages of interviewing with a Series B start-up. The interview went well and the VP of Sales let me know they were ready to extend an offer while speaking on the phone with him. After negotiating my salary to a level all parties were comfortable with, I verbally confirmed I would accept and we scheduled a follow-up. The VP told me to rest assured and congratulated me.


On our follow-up, the VP asked if I could wait for two weeks more (at most) for the official offer. The VP said there were some organizational changes in the works that needed to be sorted out, but that they are still bullish on me and I am to be the very next hire if I can wait the up to 14+ days. He assured me he was not pitting other candidates against me, but that he needed more time.


I felt it was odd, given we had discussed my timeline. I have been actively interviewing and now I am hesitant to let my other offers stand idle, even though this opportunity is the one I am most interested in.


I am looking for advice on how to approach this, what I should do regarding other offers vs this offer, and what I should communicate to the company/VP

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30 comments

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SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
20
Officer of ♥️
Thats fucked. What company is this.

Never heard of this.

Not much you can do here but wait.

Id continue with the other companies as a backup plan

If you want to talk to him just call him and tell him what you’re telling us

‘Hey it makes me uneasy that you need me to wait two weeks because nothing is in writing that I will get the offer. If you are sure you will hire me how about we sign a document that says I am hired and my start date is on x date?’

I think he’s bullshitting you.

Id continue interviewing

Also a huge red flag of whats to come
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
9
Officer of ♥️
Also no reason they cant extend an offer with a two week out start date.
SaaSsy
Politicker
4
AE
Spot on - especially a VP of sales! Find a way to get the contract in place and work the other details out later 🤣 Unless you have a really good feeling and trust this person, definitely keep your options open. The good news is that you can easily hold off any other offers for 2 weeks - vacation planned and you need time to think, etc. Good luck! Keep us updated!
aSaaSinator
Good Citizen
0
Sales Director
It also lets you know just how little control and power your VP of Sales has. He can't hire for an open position he has? Is there a financial issue at this company? Are they about to be sold?
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
VERY fucked.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
6
Sales Director
@SADNESSLieutenantnailed it. What would be the issue with just adjusting start date two weeks out?

"Mr. VP, thank you again for the opportunity. What exactly would be preventing us from changing the start date and signing my offer today?

I was planning on turning down other offers for this position but if I'm being asked to wait to sign my offer, I'd love to understand why.

Just want to be sure I'm not missing anything, thanks again!"
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I would do this AND continue to pursue my other interviews in the meantime, and only stop when these guys get an offer letter and contract in front of you.
Pachacuti
Politicker
4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I often say “keep doing discovery until you discover the signature on the contract”. Same can be said for job hunting. It’s not done till it’s done.
The job offer isn’t an offer till you actually see it and then it can be revoked at any time. It sucks.
If you’re actively Job hunting, don’t stop.
Jdemetsky
4
Enterprise Sales Executive
I have been misled and let go for the dumbest reason by series b startup...I've worked at others that I was fortunate enough to avoid cutbacks but it was one thing after another.
My advice is you don't have a job until you start on your first day.
Something smells here..why couldn't he make it official now by putting the start date in two weeks.
Keep interviewing. Worst case you don't get it but you get something else comparable or better. Best case , you can use this as leverage now with them and other companies ! When they come back with an offer you tell them you had to keep interviewing and now you have another offer or two for more money.
Go stick it to em!
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
I couldn't agree more. An ex-colleague told me their joining date has been delayed by 3 months due to an "economic slowdown". This is post receiving an offer letter. Now they've resigned from their current company, rejected other offers they had, and perhaps waiting to join this so-called unicorn after 3 months.
goose
Politicker
3
Sales Executive
If this is how they treat you as a prospect imagine how they will treat you when you work there…
startupcrm
Executive
3
Enterprise AE
I would assume (and this is an assumption) the company is January FY. Therefore they don't want to take on more salary in the CQ ending 10/31. Even though you wouldn't start until Nov having you accepted offer would put your salary on their balance sheet for Q3.

This could be viewed a few ways. Smart finance practices. They are trying to make numbers look better than they are. They are bullshitting you and my assumption above is wrong.

I would push as to why the 14 day delay. If they can't be transparent it would be a red flag to me.
aSaaSinator
Good Citizen
0
Sales Director
Umm, no it wouldn't go on their Q3 balance sheet. No money allocated or spent in Q3. If he starts in Q4, that's where the money goes.
tightlines
Politicker
2
Account Executive
They probably have to get approvals for things, but who knows
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
2
Professional Day Ruiner
sounds like they're almost out of cash and expect to get more funding. I could be wrong, but when you're talking series A/B companies its not the most uncommon thing
SFHill
2
.
100% a major red flag. I never comment but this pisses me off and I hope sharing my experience benefits the group.

This would suggest that when your offer went up the approval chain, someone flagged it and put it in pause.

In Greenhouse for example the approval chain could go as follows:

1 - Recruiter
2 - Direct Manager (VP In this case)
3 - CRO
4 - CFO
5 - Founder/CEO

I went through this same scenario with a company I interviewed with a 6 months back. All interviews completed, verbal offer, comp & equity confirmed. An hour before I was to receive my “official” offer letter the recruiter said they needed 2 weeks due to internal Org enablement the company needed to best set me up for success on day 1.

This was a Manager role reporting to a Director. Turns out there was a confidential search to find a VP to manage that Director going on. Neither the recruiter or Director was aware. The following week they put the job rec on “hold” until a VP started, ramped, and determined what is best for the team.

There is zero reason a start date can’t be pushed back a few weeks. Its a single field edit in Docusign. This is internal and out of that VPs hands.

Never count the job as yours until you get paper and it is signed. “Drink when you Ink” Gunforhire and keep interviewing.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
0
War Room Community Manager
excellent advice in the end, @SFHill
kevindsc
2
Head of Partnerships
Is that the kind of management you want to for?
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
Always the best question to ask before signing any agreement with an employer @kevindsc
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
1
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
You need to let them know this. There is always a chance the offer gets pulled. Do what’s best for you
10XQLA
Politicker
1
Medical Sales Assassin
That sucks bro, I would ask for a promissory note of an offer of employment with the time-line documented. Hope that helps, otherwise keep the other balls in the air.
RugbyGuy
Personal Narrative
1
Regional Sales Manager
I would assume that the job was gone... doesn't matter why... but say nothing & keep interviewing... often as not, the confidence you will feel from getting that quasi-offer will seep through your next interviews & you will end up with something just as good or better... If you still wanted the first one, I might call the guy with the pen in my hand & ready to sign another offer. if the guy is any kind of trustworthy, he will at least tell you the whole story... if he hems & haws, then you know you especially know you made the right decision to move on.
MiguelP77
1
Account Director
I have just gone through something very similar where I had numerous interviews even travelled to their offices to have a final interview and was offered the job and I accepted. After about 5 weeks of interviews etc I was then told that due to the holiday season my start date would only be in 8 weeks time and I was not impressed because throughout the whole process this was not mentioned and I had been on other interviews that were positive and so I would have to forfeit all the opportunities to wait almost 2 months. I pushed back on it and told them I could not wait and in a heart beat they retracted the offer. My advice is accept the start date but keep on searching and if you accept another offer then explain to them you have another offer and unless they can sign a contract then you will no longer be available to work for them. You have to take the power back and see if they are serious enough to put pen to paper or else you may end up in my situation where the offer is all of a sudden retracted. I was angry because after all the time we had been speaking they never mentioned any delay in the start date, but this is a valuable lesson I learned and I wont make the same mistake again.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
these companies should be publicly shamed, ideally!
DECIDEnow
1
Director
One more vote for 'backburner, keep interviewing'. If something else solidifies, take it.

My view is simple... the VP isn't in control of their team and it's unlikely to be a good spot. To put it simply, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken s*t.
GigabitChaser
Valued Contributor
1
Sr Account Executive
If nothing is on paper then it doesn't exist. It's a company so it can't be trusted and sadly you cannot trust anything verbally stated. Continue to interview and see what happens but major red flags. No reason they can't offer and wait on the start date.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
Sounds like a money issue for the company otherwise you would expect them to sign you and just delay the start date
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
I would understand if its for one of the big tech companies where the is red tape on everything, however with a Series B this is weird to me

The other offers, are they close to this one? Do you have any hesitations outside of the wait time?

You can always delay the answer for other offers
salespoon
0
Sales Director
Ask for two weeks of pay for delay wait
eyris
Fire Starter
0
Business Development Intern
I’d have something as a backup plan just in case and disorganization in HR usually takes a week or two to get in system but possible red flag be cautious and keep something on lock

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